Star Wars Knowledge and
Other Movie News

March 6,
2000

'Matrix' Talk & Tidbits:Some
small details of the fast approaching Matrix sequel productions are turning up.
While talking to Entertainment Weekly, Keanu Reeves carefully avoided giving
any specific details of what the next two films involved, though he did drop
some hints. Initially, though, he says what we know, stating, "Filming starts
late in March in Oakland. I've read both scripts and they're fantastic." Reeves
adds, "Before, all the fights were one on one and now there's going to be more
multifighting." On this point, the site quotes Reeves from his recent Rolling
Stone interview, when he said, "There's going to be much more wire work (in the
sequels) because the characters can fly. With this one I'll fight in the sky."
Regarding when production on the sequels might wrap, Reeves says, "From what
I've heard, I'm working until September 2002." That would suggest that the
second film, at the earliest, wouldn't hit theaters until holiday season 2002,
though it would suggest summer 2003. In addition, it is reported that the twin
productions are scheduled for 200 days of shooting, which could be lengthened
due to the threatened actors strike. The shoot will star in Oakland and run for
12 weeks before shutting down for the strike, even if there isn't one. This
shut down will allow the effects side of the production to kick in and do their
thing. After the strike is averted or settled, shooting will resume in
Australia. No mention is made of shoots in Chicago.

Moss
Talks 'Matrix' Sequels:Carrie Anne Moss is
talking about the fast approaching Matrix sequel productions. While promoting
her film Momento, Moss spoke to iF Magazine about the film, saying, "I leave in
a week to go to San Francisco to shoot for three and a half months." Like the
Lord of the Rings production, the Matrix sequels will not be shot back-to-back,
as previously reported, but simultaneously, according to Moss. The actress
adds, "I am not sure how theyre going to do that." Regarding the upcoming
potential strikes and their effects on the production, which is scheduled to
shut down midstream for a number of weeks, Moss says, "I dont know and I
need to find out. I keep asking but nobody knows the answer to that. I
dont know if you can continue to work or if well have to break
during that time." Like everyone else involved in the production, Moss is
staying mum on the specifics of the two coming films. All she would say was:
"Both scripts are written and they are fantastic. I cant say a word about
either of them, but they are great. I trust The Brothers. If you knew them, you
would trust them too."

'Andromeda' Is Not 'Trek':Keith
Hamilton Cobb is talking about those previous comparisons of his show, Gene
Roddenberry's Andromeda, to Star Trek. While talking to syndicated Inside Trek
& Sci Fi columnist Ian Spelling, Cobb, who plays Tyr Anasazi on the series,
gave his opinion on the matter, saying, "I think we disproved that comparison,
and we will continue to disprove it. I don't think it was an astute analogy
early on, anyway - it was a knee-jerk reaction. "People made judgment calls
about that and several other things early on," he adds. "It's a new show. The
Nietzscheans were not meant to be anything like Klingons and, in fact, they are
not. Anybody who still wants to make that analogy will make it - it's easy, but
it's just not so." Cobb also talks about the success of the series in a tough
market for syndicated shows, saying, "How could I not be pleased? We've
received a lot of good press and a lot of positive fan feedback...The target
audience is generally thrilled."

March 1,
2000

Lucas
Reveals Lee's Role:George Lucas has confirmed
the name of the character that veteran actor Christopher Lee will be playing in
Star Wars: Episode II. In his written introduction to the book Christopher Lee:
The Authorised Screen History, by Jonathan Rigby, Lucas confirms a long lived
rumor, has writing: "When it was time to cast the role of Count Dooku in Star
Wars: Episode II my casting director suggested Christopher Lee and I jumped at
the opportunity to work with him. I knew that I needed someone who could convey
evil. But in addition, I needed someone to bring stature, strength and wisdom
to the role. His villainous résumé speaks for itself." While
talking to Empire Online, the actor himself gave the latest word on the
developing film and possibly beyond, saying, "As far as Star Wars is concerned
we have not finished photography. Principal photography? Yes, but there will be
pickups and I believe that George has revealed the name of the character I play
in his introduction [to the book]. I havent said anything and I still
havent...If George has revealed it, thats where I leave it. I
dont want to get into trouble with George because theres number
three, dont forget!" "Number three?" Hmmm...

Lee
Talks 'Rings':Christopher Lee is talking about
the Lord of the Rings films, again. While talking to Empire Online, Lee spoke
favorably, again, about Jackson, saying, "His instincts are amazing. His
stamina is something I could barely believe. Hes a very stable man. He
has tremendous stamina and he needed it, he needed it." When asked to compare
Star Wars: Episode II with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Lee says, "Ive
said before that the Lord of the Rings, in my opinion  Star Wars speaks
for itself, of course. Itll be titanic as a film, they all are and
deservedly so  but the Lord of the Rings will, I think, create cinema
history because I dont think anybody will have seen anything quite like
it."

'Rings'
Filming Update:Though principal photography on
the Lord of the Rings films had wrapped, that doesn't mean there isn't filming
still going on. According to E! Online, graphic and digital artists are hard at
work on the three films' special effects needs, with word that a replacement
for the departed Mark Stetson has been hired, though as yet his name has not
been revealed. The site reports that coming up soon will be filming of the
flooding of Isengard. Meanwhile, Peter Jackson is said to be out overseeing
"aerial photography in the mountainous South Island of New Zealand," via
helicopter.

'Conan
3' Title?:Word has it that John Milius has
begun working on the script for the third Conan movie... and it now may have a
title. While talking to IGN FilmForce, unnamed sources said to be close to the
director-writer revealed that the third film is tentatively called King Conan:
Crown of Iron. A King Conan movie has been rumored for quite some time, and
should Arnold Schwarzenegger choose to actually play the title role (which
Milius is said to want), he's certainly in the right age range. Time will tell,
of course.

'Tomb
Raider' Scene Info:Information regarding one of
the action sequences in the coming Tomb Raider movie has turned up online. The
scene involves a chase across an ice lagoon which had been shot in Iceland.
According to About.com's Action-Adventure domain, Leifur B. Dagfinnsson, the
Executive Producer for Saga Film Productions in Iceland, who provided
production service for the shoot, spoke of the scene...which may well be
considered a spoiler. If you would rather not know a thing about what will be
coming in the TR film, then move along to another story by using one of the
links at the right. Still there? You were warned. The site quotes Dagfinnsson
talking about what the shoot involved, saying, "[Lara Croft] is traveling from
the base of a crater and finding the entrance for some extra terrestrial goal
or item, what their searching for, so she's trying to find the ice cave that
leads down to that thing," Dagfinnsson recalled. "She starts off going up the
glacier, the tongue of the glacier on dogsleds and amphibian boats. She sails
through the icebergs on the ice lagoon onto the tongue of the glacier. Then she
takes the dog sleds up the tongue to the top of the mountain. There, you go
into the ice cave and that became a studio [shoot]. She actually goes full
speed into the cave on dog sleds." The producer also revealed that the scene
involved Croft being chased a gang led by Powell (Iain Glen). No explosives
were used, but there was some gunplay. About what his company contributed,
Dagfinnsson says, "We serviced a week's shoot where they shot on the ice lagoon
using ice bergs. They needed like a Siberian landscape and then the top of a
glacier. That involved bringing 100 people crew in from the U.K that was
chartered in with the equipment as well and then 150 Icelandic crew members
were added on with safety guards, security, extras, etc. We shot on the glacier
and brought 250 people up there."

February 27,
2000

Ford's
'K-19' Paycheck?:It looks like Harrison Ford
will be taking home quite a big paycheck for his work in the upcoming K-19: The
Widowmaker. According to the NY Post, the actor will pull in an estimated $25M
for 20 days of work. Regarding the money and the movie, Ford is quoted as
saying, ""The cash didn't tempt me. I took the part because of the gripping
plot...The tremendous courage and sense of duty exhibited by the Russian
submarine force amid the Cold War struggle for nuclear supremacy inspired me to
take on the role of Captain Zateyev." The film's executive producer, Tim Kelly,
doesn't have a problem with that, saying, "We would have paid anything to get
Harrison Ford on board. He guarantees a hit."

More
'Galactica' Info:Studios USA big shot Dan
Pasternack has been talking about the quickly developing Battlestar Galactica
TV series, spearheaded by Bryan Singer. While talking to SCIFI.COM, the
executive revealed that preliminary plans for the coming series are to pick up
after the events of the previous '70s program. Still, he notes, "It's a little
bit premature, and we're in the very early creative inception. I will tell you
that Bryan Singer's intent is to be very faithful to the spirit and legacy of
the original show. I think his intent is creatively to go forward in time as
the saga has continued in his mind." Currently, there are no plans to feature
any of the characters from the original series...except the Cylons. On this
point, Pasternack says, "I think it's safe to say you can't do Battlestar
Galactica without Cylons, [but] what our relationship to the Cylons will be, I
can't say." Once again, he emphasizes how faithful the new show will be to the
original, though Pasternack reveals that some things will change, saying, "I
can assure you [Singer] is very committed to adhering to that which came
before. He's not looking to take it in any direction that would be
disappointing to the fans of the original show." But, then, he adds, "I don't
know if [finding Earth] is the goal in this show. ... We could be on a
different exodus." Pasternack also reveals that there have been, as yet, no
talks with series star Richard Hatch. However, producer Glen Larsen is said to
be on board as an advisor, as the exec says, "Bryan and Glen sat down. We
wanted to make sure this union was very blessed by Glen. ... He has blessed
this and wants to see it go forward. ... We want to make sure that respect is
paid." As for when the series will premiere, the exec says that it probably
won't be earlier than mid-season 2002, adding, "It's pretty epic stuff we're
going to do. We're committed to doing it right, now that we have Bryan. It's
waited some 20-odd years to be reborn. We're committed to doing it
right."

Mulder
Coming Back?:Recent word from Chris Carter
would further suggest that abducted FBI agent Fox Mulder is very much
alive...and may be back for a potential 9th season of The X-Files or at least a
second feature film. According to the LA Times, while appearing at a preview
screening of the Lone Gunmen on Friday night at the Beverly Hills' Museum of
Television & Radio, a fan in attendance asked Carter if David Duchovny
would be coming back next year. Carter is said to have answered, "He has not
ruled it out, but if he does come back, it would be in a more limited way than
he's done for the eighth [current] season." He added, "Banning anything
unforeseen, [the series] should be back for a ninth season. But if it's not,
the movie will follow right after the eighth season."

February 25,
2000

Lucas:
'Star Wars' Sequels:Sure, there's the prequels,
but George Lucas continues to stay firm regarding a potential Star Wars sequel
series. While talking to USA Today, Lucas was asked if there was any chance he
might change his mind and do them. Lucas answered, "No way. I guarantee that.
After the next one (Episode III), I'll move on."

'X-Men
2' Talk:A number of the cast of the X-Men movie
have been talking about what they would like to see happen in the coming
sequel. In an article in Ultimate DVD magazine, Patrick Stewart, Famke Janssen
and Anna Paquin revealed what they'd like to see happen. Stewart sounds like he
wouldn't mind acting with Ian McKellen again when he says, "I would hope we
might find more time for Magneto and Xavier to be together." Paquin is looking
to be a little more active, saying, "I think next time Id like to do a
bit of fighting, because Rogue spends most of this movie being a damsel in
distress." Janssen draws from X-Men comic history in her hopes. She says, "The
interesting thing about Jean Grey is that she goes through different
transformations and she turns into Dark Phoenix at some point, which of course
we didnt even touch upon in this film. But the little times that
weve foreshadowed something was the sense of what Professor Xavier
teaches at the school is you have to be in charge of your powers. Thats
one of the things Jean is not that good at yet, and thats one of the
things that eventually will turn her into Dark Phoenix."

Gish
Talks 'X-Files':Annabeth Gish is talking about
what we can expect from her new role of FBI agent Monica Reyes in this week's
episode of The X-Files. While talking to TV Guide Online, Gish explains that
the initial meeting between her character and Dana Scully has seeming bumps,
saying, "There is tension in the beginning because I am sort of the new girl on
the block, but my character makes it very clear that I'm of no threat. I'm not
coming in to try and take over [Scully's] division." Regarding her character's
past with John Doggett, Gish says, "There is the suggestion of a romance, but
mainly we [once] worked on a case together involving the loss of his son, so
bringing me in helps to illuminate his past as well." Of course, word has it
that should the series go on to a ninth season, Gish will become a regular part
of the cast. On this point, the actress says, "It's all up in the air.
Hopefully [it] will happen. I'm just having such a wonderful time, and it's a
family I'd love to continue to work with."

Eaves
On 'Trek' 5 Ship:Word has it that designer John
Eaves, who worked on the upcoming Star Trek: The Motion Picture DVD, has been
tapped to participate in the creation of the featured starship for the coming
fifth Star Trek TV series. In an interview with Radio Free Decipher, Dan
Madsen, prez of the Official Star Trek Fan Club, revealed, "He is currently
working on the new Star Trek series that's in development and he is designing
the new starship for that show."

Mumba
In 'Time Machine':Though previous reports
courtesy of her agent said it was so, DreamWorks and Warner Bros. are
confirming that Irish singer Samantha Mumba has joined the cast of the
currently in production Time Machine remake. According to the Hollywood
Reporter, Mumba will take on the role of Mara, one of the docile humans of the
future that are bred like cattle by the cannibalistic Morlocks. The film stars
Guy Pearce as the time traveler with Sienna Guillory, Jeremy Irons and Mark
Addy.

DeSanto
Talks 'Galactica':X-Men producer Tom DeSanto is
shedding light on how he and Bryan Singer became involved in relaunching the
Battlestar Galactica franchise. While talking to Fandom.com's own Smilin' Jack
Ruby, DeSanto revealed how he and Singer jumped on to Galactica, saying, "We
were on a plane going to the X-Men press junket in early July before X-Men
comes out. Before that, Bryan said, what do you thinkll be the next big
thing? When he said, whatll be the next big thing and I said Battlestar
Galactica, he got it instantly. His face lit up and he knew exactly what I was
talking about. Battlestar Galactica is a sleeping giant. Its the number 3
science fiction franchise on the planet behind Star Wars and Star Trek.
Its the number 2 internationally, I think, surpassing Star Trek just out
of fans behind Star Wars. I brought him the DVD of the original one-hour movie
and he watched it on the plane going out there. Afterwards he said, you know,
lets do it! So then we started to sketch things out at that point,
seriously, as opposed to me doing it with books in private. When we took it to
Studios USA, (USA Television Production Group president) Dave Kissinger and
(USA senior vp of drama programming) Dan Pasternack got it immediately. They
were really enthusiastic about doing it with us." When asked how many of the
characters from the original TV series would be making the jump to the new one,
DeSanto answers, "I think well leave that for a later revelation. I
promise that old fans and people who havent heard of it alike will be
happy with the new series." Then, he adds, "The main thing we want is for the
fans to give us a chance. The same thing with X-Men. I understand the passion.
Im a hardcore fan. I know the Battleship Pegasus and I know Commander
Cain, Count Iblis, and all those things, but allow us to work our story and not
for the hardcore fans to jump on anything in a negative way until they see it.
I think everybodys going to be happy and people who havent seen
Galactica before will find it accessible and it will get a whole new generation
of fans." Regarding original Galactica star Richard Hatch's attempts to revive
the show, DeSanto admits that he's never seen the trailer reel the actor
created. As to if Hatch might eventually be involved in the series, the
producer says, "You know what  I have ideas, Ill say that much.
Hes got such passion for the project and love for the franchise that you
have to really respect and admire that."